As He Retires, Cricket Superstar Gets India's Highest Honor

Students in Ahmadabad, India, honored cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar in their own way earlier this week.

Siddharaj SolankiAP

Originally published on November 16, 2013 2:42 pm

Indian cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar has indeed left the pitch for the last time, now that his national team's match against the West Indies is over (India won easily, 495-182).

As predicted, the West Indies ran out of batsmen on Saturday and never came close to erasing India's lead — effectively ending the competition on Day 3 of what could have been a five-day match.

On his way into retirement, the "little master" has been awarded the Bharat Ratna, which the Times of India describes as the nation's "highest civilian honor." He's the first "sportsman" to receive that award.